"I submitted the letter to the judges because Ahok has repeatedly committed his blasphemous act. If we look at our previous jurisprudence, Ahok is the only blasphemy suspect who remains free," Novel said on Tuesday, after he testified as a witness during the fourth session of the governor’s trial in the auditorium of the Agriculture Ministry on Jl. RM Harsono, Pasar Minggu, South Jakarta.

Novel is the head of advocacy of the National Movement to Safeguard the Indonesian Ulema Council's Fatwa (GNPF-MUI), the organization that instigated the Dec. 2 mass rally at the National Monument (Monas) in Central Jakarta to demand the arrest of Ahok.

(Read also: Ahok defamed Islam repeatedly: FPI leader)

Novel said he had reported Ahok for blasphemy to the police nine times. He said he had even reported the refutation Ahok made during a previous hearing on Dec. 13 to National Police Criminal Investigation Department. Novel claimed that in his refutation, Ahok had insulted the Quran, especially Surah Al Maidah 51. 

Novel claims he convinced the judicial panel led by Dwiarso Budi Santiarto that his decision to report Ahok for blasphemy was not politically motivated.

“I don't understand politics. I have no political party background and I'm not a supporter of any political party,” he said. (ebf)

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